Blues release 2013 schedule

By foxsports
Published

ST. LOUIS – The Blues will play six games in nine days to open their shortened 48-game schedule, starting with a Jan. 19 matchup against the Detroit Red Wings at Scottrade Center.
 
The NHL released the regular season schedule Saturday evening after players voted to ratify the new CBA that was previously agreed upon by owners and players last week. The Blues will open training camp Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Scottrade Center in a workout that is free and open to the public.
 
Last year's Central Division Champs will start the regular season just six days later when they host the hated Red Wings in what is sure to an exciting night as hockey officially returns after missing nearly four months due to the lockout.
 
The Blues will actually play the Red Wings four times in their first 13 games and just once over their final 35. Their first four games are against division rivals Detroit, Nashville and Chicago. They will play in Nashville on Jan. 21 and in Chicago on Jan. 22 before hosting the Predators at home on Jan. 24.
 
Winners of a playoff series last year for the first time in a decade, the Blues will play 10 sets of games on back-to-back nights including three times in their first eight games. Five of the ten back-to-backs feature both games being on the road while just two of the ten sets are both home games. The Blues are home in the second game of just four of the ten back-to-backs.
 
Due to the need to crunch a lot of games into a little amount of time, the Blues will play 41 of their 48 games with either zero or one day’s rest. Their longest layoff of the season is a generous six-day break in late February. The Blues play Columbus at home on Feb. 22 and don’t play again until hosting Chicago on Feb. 28.

The Blues' longest road trip of the season will be a five-game trip from March 3-10 when they visit Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose and Anaheim. The Blues have one four-game trip from April 7-12 and a pair of three-game road trips. They have two four-game home stands and three three-game sets at Scottrade.
 
The Blues will finish the season with seven of their final eight games at home, including their regular season finale on April 27 against the Blackhawks.